Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of B₄C-TiB₂ Composite Prepared by Hot Pressure Sintering

B4C-TiB2 composite was prepared using hot pressure sintering. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the B4C-TiB2 composite were investigated. The B4C-TiB2 composite with 43 mass % TiB2 showed the optimized properties. The relative density, hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of that were 98.2 %, 25.9 GPa, 458 MPa and 8.7 MPa•m1/2, respectively. A number of toughening mechanisms, including fine grain, crack deflection and grain pull-out, were observed during microstructural analysis of the composite. The fracture mode of the B4C-TiB2 composite was greatly affected by the existence of the second phase of TiB2.